Public domain Bycatch Data

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Page updated: 02 Nov 2025

What Is Bycatch?

In tuna fisheries, “bycatch” refers to sea animals that are unintentionally caught while targeting tuna. These may include sharks, turtles, seabirds, and other fish species. Managing bycatch is important to protect marine life and ensure sustainable fishing practices.

This page provides access to bycatch data collected by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The data is compiled using a method called the Bycatch Data Exchange Protocol (BDEP) and includes catch, effort, and observer information.

Why This Data Matters

  • Helps identify species at risk from tuna fishing.
  • Supports better fishing practices to reduce harm to marine life.
  • Encourages cooperation among international fisheries bodies.
  • Informs policy and scientific decisions across regional fisheries organizations.

Background: About the BDEP

The BDEP is a standardized format used by regional fisheries bodies (called tuna RFMOs) to share and compare bycatch data.

Key Timeline:

  • 2015: Experts met in Taiwan to recommend a shared format for bycatch data among tuna RFMOs.
  • 2015: Clarke et al. proposed a protocol including:
    • Total fishing and observed effort by area, fishery, and year.
    • Captures, mortalities, and live releases of vulnerable species.
  • 2015 (SC11) : WCPFC agreed to develop its own BDEP. Read the summary
  • 2016 (SC12): First WCPFC BDEP tables for 2013–2015 were published. Williams et al. 2016 paper
  • July 2020: Updates to tables were provided. Read Williams 2020

What’s Available Here?

The following datasets are available in Excel format, covering the years 2013–2023. These include both total fishing effort and observer data, including non-ROP observer data held by SPC:

  1. Total fishing and observed effort per year and fishery.
  2. Bycatch in Longline Fisheries (year): Observed and estimated captures/mortalities by species group.
  3. Bycatch in Purse Seine Fisheries (year): Observed and estimated captures/mortalities by species group.
  4. Bycatch in Longline Fisheries (year/area): Breakdown by fishing area.

  5. Bycatch in Purse Seine Fisheries (year/area): Breakdown by fishing area.


    Public domain Bycatch Data files
     

Last updated: 6 November 2024